{"id":3978,"date":"2022-03-24T16:10:58","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T16:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/?p=3978"},"modified":"2022-03-24T16:10:58","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T16:10:58","slug":"is-covid-eye-a-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/?p=3978","title":{"rendered":"Is \u2018COVID Eye\u2019 a Thing?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Authors:  Susanne Medeiros<\/a>;  James G Chelnis, MD<\/a> Jan. 18, 2022 American Journal of Opthalmology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The British press recently reported that a 9-year-old boy was nearly blinded after developing \u2018Covid eye\u2019.  He lost vision in one eye less than a week after testing positive for Covid-19. Physicians determined the boy had developed orbital cellulitis<\/a>, a bacterial infection in his eye socket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cellulitis is serious because if it\u2019s not treated quickly and aggressively, it can lead to blindness. Luckily the boy was treated and made a full recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But does COVID cause cellulitis? There have been a handful of reports of people with COVID who later developed orbital cellulitis. But it\u2019s unclear COVID caused the rare eye infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what ophthalmologists do know. An infection in the blood stream can spread to the eye and cause orbital cellulitis. It\u2019s also possible that those who have recovered from COVID have a weakened immune system and are therefore more susceptible to a new bacterial infection or sinusitis, two conditions that can lead to orbital cellulitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or perhaps small blood clots that form in response to COVID may be to blame? New York ophthalmologist James G. Chelnis, MD, recently treated a patient who developed orbital cellulitis after having COVID. During his COVID infection, the patient developed scattered small blood clots, some that traveled behind the same eye that developed cellulitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrombi (blood clots) are like banquets for bacteria,\u201d Dr. Chelnis explained. \u201cIt is possible that small emboli are laying the groundwork for infections in the orbit.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether or not the two conditions are linked, here\u2019s what your ophthalmologist wants you to know about orbital cellulitis.  Because sinus infections are more common in cold weather, cellulitis occurs more in the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other problems that can lead to cellulitis include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n